Republicans gave $760K to Akin campaign despite disavowal

WASHINGTON -- After vowing not to spend any money on behalf of ToddAkin's U.S. Senate bid, national Republicans pumped $760,000 into theShow-Me State just a few days before voters went to the polls.

Newcampaign finance filings show that the National Republican SenatorialCommittee sent $360,000 to the Missouri Republican Party's federalcampaign committee on Nov. 1. And the NRSC - which is charged withelecting GOP candidates to the Senate - sent another $400,000 on Nov. 2.

Thestate party reported paying almost exactly that amount - $756,000 - toStrategic Media Placement, an Ohio firm that Akin had used to buy his TVad time, on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1. The state party's FEC report shows thefunds were for "W. Todd Akin."

That cash infusion came despite acomplete disavowal of Akin by top party leaders -including Senate GOPleader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, and NRSC Chairman John Cornyn, ofTexas.

"We have no plans" to devote any money to the Missourirace, Cornyn said in a September interview. "I just think that this isnot a winnable race," he added.

Akin earned the ire of partyleaders after he said that women who are victims of "legitimate rape"rarely get pregnant because their bodies have a way to prevent that fromhappening. He apologized for the comment but never recovered, losingthe nationally watched race to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Atthe very end of that contest, the Missouri Republican Party launched amajor TV ad blitz on the teetering candidate's behalf. At the time,officials at the state party declined to say where they got the money tofund the nearly $700,000 blitz, and the NRSC similarly declinedcomment.

But the new filings show that the NRSC gave the stateparty enough to cover the tab. It's not clear if officials in Washingtonsaid how that money should be spent.

An NRSC spokesman did notimmediately respond to an e-mail and voicemail requesting comment. And aspokesman for the Missouri GOP also did not respond to a voicemail onThursday.